𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧

━ five

MADDILYN SNAPE LOOKED UP, to see Sirius Black holding out his hand for her to take. "Black, think you've got the wrong girl," she said after several moments of silence. 

"I'm positive I got the right person," Sirius said. "Unless, of course, you're using Polyjuice," he said jokingly, a nervousness showing that wasn't usually present on the prankster. 

"You want to dance with me," Maddie asked, surprise evident on her face. 

"Yes," Sirius said. 

"Who are you?" Maddie asked. "Are you an alien sent from another planet?" 

"Very funny, Mads," Sirius said. He froze at her glare. "Oops, Maddie?" he said sheepishly. Only one person in Maddie's life was allowed to call her 'Mads', and it certainly was not Sirius Black. 

"Fine, I'll dance with you," Maddie said, sighing, and taking Sirius's hand. 

Sirius grinned, like a kid getting a gift on Christmas. He placed his hands comfortably around her waist. Even though Maddie had agreed to dance with him, she still felt a little startled when he wrapped his arms around her.

The two started dancing in a calm silence. 

"Why were you talking to my brother?" Sirius said out of the blue, with genuine curiosity.

Maddie looked up at Sirius's tall frame. Sometimes, she hated being short. "We're friends," Maddie said shortly, glancing at Remus while Sirius spun her. It seemed like he was getting berated by his friends.Sirius seemed to not like this answer, but he accepted it anyways.

"So, what caused the great Sirius Black to ask lowly Maddie Snape to dance? Is this a prank, or a dare?" Maddie asked. 

"Neither," Sirius said. "It's a peace offering." 

"The war started the day we walked into Hogwarts, with you at it's helm," Maddie said. With that, she removed herself from Sirius's grasp and left Sirius standing alone on the dance floor. 

THE HARDEST THING ABOUT heartbreak was that Sirius Black shouldn't have even had it. The feeling he had for Maddilyn Snape wasn't even love, he knew that. What chance did they have at the feeling called love anyways? 

However, Maddie Snape was the key to change Sirius's ways. If only she cared, which she didn't. She did not give a care in the world for Sirius, and nor would she fall for he's devilishly handsome looks, or charming smile. Because Maddie didn't fall at one's feet because they were cute. She only fell for people who cared for her. Who actually liked her. And Sirius Black didn't fit that criteria. 

Maddie walked up to Severus Snape, her brother, and dragged him on the dance floor. "Have you gotten the mark yet?" Maddie asked hoarsely. 

Severus's looked at Maddie in shock. "W-what did you say?" 

"Have you gotten his Mark yet?" Maddie repeated, looking into Severus's eyes, similar to hers, but his held more pain than hers ever would. 

"Not yet," Severus whispered. 

"Please reconsider," Maddie begged. "Please."

"I can't," Severus said. "It's to keep you safe, Mads." 

"I am perfectly capable of protecting myself," Maddie said. "I don't need you protecting me anymore!"

Severus's features softened. "I need to do this Maddie. I might not be the hero of the story, but I'm not the villain," Severus said. 

"Promise me one thing," Maddie said. 

"Anything," Severus said. 

"You have to have a way to escape. Don't let yourself get trapped," Maddie said. 

"I promise." 

MADDILYN SNAPE HAD GONE into a state of depression that nobody could take her out of. The only person she talked to on occasion was her best friends, Silver Gray and Leo Reese, and you could see her often with her brother, though in a state of silence. 

The quiet coming from her was astounding, considering she was one of the most talkative people in the castle. But she didn't have any motivation to talk.

Maddie knew Severus would join the Death Eaters. But somewhere, she held out hope that Severus would return, coming out of the shadows and allowing some light to shine on him. Severus knew that he had dug his grave, and he was at the point of never returning. He was teetering on the edge, threatening to fall, and Maddie was holding on as hard as she could. However, he would be the one to jump, plummeting into the shadowy depths.

The war was either minutes or years away, but the idea of it was looming over the castle. Many had already been killed, and the death counts would keep on rising.

And so, like every time Maddie needed to say things that she couldn't say, she wrote them and hid them around the castle. This time, she was going to hide the letter in the Room of Requirement. 

Dear Reader,

Nobody is safe from the Dark Lord's wrath, the Death Eaters most of all. If they slip up, they will pay. And if my brother doesn't have a way to escape, when he makes that fatal mistake, he will pay dearly. Most likely starting with me. 

My brother doesn't care for many, but the Dark Lord knows he cares about me. And if my brother fails to do his tasks, I cannot even fathom what the Dark Lord will do. 

A war is going to happen, and nobody is going to get out unscathed. I know I will fight to my very end. Many have already been killed, and somebody I care about will most likely be next. 

And to you, reader, if you are alive and well, then we can all pray that the war has ended and the Dark Lord has been defeated. For we need a more blinding light, we need a beacon of hope, and we need to be encouraged to fight. For the war is quickly coming upon us, and we are forced to grow up, when we barely got to live a normal childhood. The war will change everybody, and the hurt and loss will be unbearable. 

If bychance we have survived, know it was not without sacrifice.

Signed,

Maddilyn S.